Blog Tour Review + Author Interview: Last Chance Summer by Shannon Klare

Last Chance Summer by Shannon Klare
Published by Feiwel & Friends on July 21, 2020
Genres: Young Adult Fiction, Romance, Romantic Comedy, Contemporary
Pages: 320
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
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In Shannon Klare's fun and sexy YA novel Last Chance Summer, a teen is shipped off to work as a counselor at a summer camp—only to butt heads with her co-counselor.
Alex is a sheriff's daughter with a less than pristine reputation. When she's caught drinking at a party by her dad’s deputy, she’s in deep trouble. With an already incriminating incident in her past, Alex’s parents ship her off to her aunt’s summer camp to work as a counselor—lest she spend her senior year at boarding school.
What's worse than spending your summer deep in the mosquito-infested woods of Texas?
Being paired with an obnoxious co-counselor who wants nothing to do with you.
Alex is determined to make the best of her summer, even if it means putting up with Grant, who has secrets of his own that he's determined to protect. Can Alex and Grant put their egos to the side and find the bright side of a summer that neither of them signed up for?

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

I always tell people that my summers spent at summer camp were the best summers of my life. I was a camper for multiple summers growing up and went on to work at a summer camp for a few summers as well. It was a really formative period of time in my life and I think really shaped me as a person! It sounds sort of dramatic but there’s something special and magical about summer camp. It’ll always hold a special place in my heart.

Given that, I am always reaching for any books that feature summer camps! It’s like my catnip. And I really enjoyed Last Chance Summer! It’s not your typical sit by the campfire and tell ghost stories sort of camp – it’s a camp geared toward troubled kids. Kids who may not be in the best place or just need some help figuring out their lives even if they don’t want it. Let me tell you – that’s hard. When I was a camp counselor, I had some experiences with kids coming from tough home lives or kids going through the foster system and it was always tough to get through the walls some of them have put up. So I could definitely empathize with Alex’s what-in-the-world-do-I-do-with-these-girls thoughts!

Anyway, the story takes place at camp where Alex is working for the summer. Reluctantly. She’d rather not be there at all, but finds herself there in order to satisfy her parent’s ultimatum: work at her aunt’s summer camp or get sent to boarding school. They’re hoping the summer away will help pull her out of the rut she’s been in ever since a tragic event she went through the past year. Alex is not about this plan and immediately butts heads with Grant, her co-counselor and apparently counselor extraordinaire. I love when banter is featured and Alex and Grant had it in spades. As the summer goes on, their relationship progresses and so does Alex’s journey into untangling and confronting some very difficult emotions she’s had bottled up.

I absolutely enjoyed seeing some key summer camp staples being featured: the pranks, a counselor competition of some sort (in this case, a basketball game), swimming — these things brought a smile to my face. The kids at this camp have not had it easy and it’s interesting seeing how Alex works with them.

Grant and Alex became quite the pair, even if their jump from bickering to dating seemed a bit sudden. Grant was such a rock for Alex to lean on, not only in showing her the ropes around camp but becoming the first of her letting someone into her life again. What Alex is dealing with and grieving for is sad and I felt like the book did a good job discussing her issues as she figured out how to pick up the pieces and move forward.

All in all, a great summer contemporary! It deals with tough topics but is balanced nicely with the summer camp setting so the tone never becomes too heavy. I’d recommend if you are in need of a summer contemporary, especially if you are a fan of the summer camp setting, like me!

Author Interview:

I was excited to have the chance to ask Shannon some questions about Last Chance Summer. Check out what she had to say!

Hi Shannon! Thanks so much for taking the time to talk about your book Last Chance Summer! Let’s start off: tell me about how the idea behind Last Chance Summer started!

The idea of LAST CHANCE SUMMER came from an introspective look at myself, after working at a summer camp as a teen.  I briefly worked with kids from a group home, and though mine was a brief interaction and learning experience, as an outsider to their problems I think I was more focused on helping them fix their situation rather than being a sounding board and a source of support.  That being said, I wanted to center this book around accepting people where they’re at and being there for them as they grow and develop.  Changing someone because you want to change them isn’t a solution.  If they’re comfortable where they’re at, it’s our job to be accepting and supportive. 

Did you go to summer camp as a kid? Did you have a favorite activity or part of camp you knew you wanted to include in the book?

Yes!  I went to summer camp for four years and really enjoyed the nighttime campfires, the occasional prank war, and the counselor basketball game played each week.  The prank war and counselor basketball game both made it into LAST CHANCE SUMMER.  Granted, our prank wars weren’t as severe as the one in this story, but it was always fun to see what would happen throughout the course of the week and come up with ideas for how to retaliate. 

Were there any scenes you wanted to include that didn’t make the cut? Tell us about them!

I cut a scene that involved Alex and Grant fishing.  This was a scene from the initial draft that was a fun way to show the pair doing something relaxed and camp-related, while still honing in on their different personalities and focusing on Alex’s huge dislike of snakes and bugs.

What would you say Alex and Grant’s favorite camp meal would be?

My favorite meal was always the cinnamon rolls!  We got them once a week and they were delicious.  I feel like Alex and Grant would enjoy them too.  Grant would probably find a way to sneak extra icing. 

(Ha, Grant would totally do that! Cinnamon rolls were also my favorite!)

This or that, Summer Camp edition:

S’mores: burned or lightly toasted? Burned! The marshmallows should be crispy.

Swimming or arts & crafts? Arts & Crafts

Top bunk or bottom bunk?  Top bunk

Ice cream or frozen popsicles (otter pops)? Ice cream

Thanks so much for chatting about your book with me! 🙂

Last Chance Summer is out now! Have you read this one? What are some of your favorite summer camp memories?

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